Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned that migration cuts sought by the Coalition and One Nation parties in the country would harm the economy and worsen skills shortages as the government pursues its own, more measured reductions to net overseas migration in an important traffic lane for the international moving industry.
Chalmers told POLITICO that opposition party proposals would damage the economy in the near term and be “absolutely diabolical” in intergenerational terms. Australia’s net overseas migration has already fallen by almost 50% from its post-COVID peak, and the government is pursuing further reductions through visa caps, backpacker visa lotteries, and “no further stay” provisions on temporary visitor visas. The treasurer said that migration remains necessary to sustain the working-age population.
In the most recent Roy Morgan poll (September 14-20, 2026), One Nation led the national primary vote for the first time since August 10. The next federal election is not required until on or before May 20, 2028, but the current polling volatility suggests migration policy will remain a live and closely watched issue well before then.
IAM Member Impact: Members active in the international consumer market to Australia should monitor the migration policy debate closely, as government provisions could directly affect temporary and skilled-worker relocation volumes in the coming months.
Source: Politico; Roy Morgan